Duke soccer: Men take huge jump in latest national rankings

After being twelfth and then seventeenth in the first two United Soccer Coaches polls, the men’s team for Duke soccer has taken a huge jump in the latest rankings. The 3-0 Blue Devils have moved all the way up to seventh this week.

The men are coming off a 3-0 shutout of Michigan on September 2nd. The win over the unranked Wolverines was the third consecutive clean sheet in as many games for keeper Eliot Hamill. The Blue Devils had opened the season hosting the John Rennie Nike Invitational where they defeated San Diego and Milwaukee. This is the highest ranking for head coach John Kerr’s team since October of last year. They return to action Saturday night at tenth-ranked Louisville to open ACC play in a game streamed on ACC Network Extra.

Lopez named to national team of the week

On the heels of helping his team post their third consecutive shutout, Antino Lopez has been named to the College Soccer News’ Team of the Week. The junior defender from Las Vegas played all ninety minutes against Michigan and has been on the field for all but six minutes through the Blue Devils’ first three games. This is the first Team of the Week honor for the veteran of thirty-six career starts.

Cooper selected ACC Offensive Player of the Week

Michelle Cooper has been honored by the conference for her performance last week. The sophomore from Michigan collected three goals and two assists in games against nationally ranked UCLA and TCU. She’s now scored a goal in four straight games and has a point in nineteen of twenty-three career games. She shares Offensive Player of the Week honors with Olivia Wingate of Notre Dame. Cooper was also named to the College Soccer News’ Team of the Week.

Also read: Women bounce back with win over TCU

The third-ranked women begin ACC play Thursday night at home against number two North Carolina on the ACC Network at 8 p.m.